Jammu, Oct 11: Fencing along the entire 490-km Line of Control, from where maximum infiltration is reported in Jammu and Kashmir, would be completed by March next and the demining of the Indo-Pak Border in the state by December next year, Chief of Army Staff Gen N C Vij said today. "We are focussing on the completion of the border fencing along the LoC, where maximum infiltration is taking place. By the end of March, 2004, we will complete fencing along the entire 490 km of LoC in J&K," he told a press conference at the technical airport here.

The Army Chief said fencing along a 100-km stretch of LoC has already been completed and work was on in full gear to complete it in the remaining portion. Fencing along the LoC had started in February last in Poonch-Uri sector, while 80 km of International Border has already been fenced in Jammu.
Vij said that Indian troops have set up a multi-tier security, comprising sensors, thermal imagers, border fencing and surveillance, along the LoC and the IB to check infiltration.

On demining works, the Army Chief said, "our troops are working hard to remove mines from the border belt in J&K and the entire belt along the international border would be demined by December, 2004."

While the border belt falling in north of Chenab would be cleared by 2003, that from Chenab to Basanter area in Jammu sector would be completely demined by February 2003, he said, adding that the borders Basantar to Punjab in Kathua sector would be demined by December, 2003.
Once the demining process was completed, the agriculture lands would be handed over to border dwellers for regular farming activities, he added.

Bureau Report